Identity Fraud

[Keykeypie]

Hi,
maybe I'm the last to know this [that happens a lot to me:) ] but I just
learned that in most states in the US....[and I guess same goes for other places] you can freeze your credit report, so if some crook gets hold of your information they won't be able to use it. I think that's so cool I'm doing it right away.

Here's more information that just applies to NYSTATE....for your particular
location you'll have to do a Google Search

http://www.consumer.state.ny.us/security_freeze.htm

[thevegantwins]

That is cool, thanks Keykey.

I remember years ago, I was so freaked out becuase my husband, then my boyfriend, called me while I was in Hong Kong to tell me that Visa was on the phone and wanted to know if I was spending money in Hong Kong. They thought the card had been stolen. Now the credit card companies do that routinely but back then, it was weird that they tracked it.

[Keykeypie]

That is cool, thanks Keykey.

I remember years ago, I was so freaked out becuase my husband, then my boyfriend, called me while I was in Hong Kong to tell me that Visa was on the phone and wanted to know if I was spending money in Hong Kong. They thought the card had been stolen. Now the credit card companies do that routinely but back then, it was weird that they tracked it.

I don't worry about my credit cards because I check them daily online,
however CBS News just did a story about how.....get this....ANYBODY can go into a US Post Office & fill out a Change of address card WITHOUT EVEN SHOWING AN ID!

Then the crook applies for a credit card or a loan in your name, using the new address and by the time you find out, you're in big trouble. At the end of the report they suggested putting a freeze on your own credit to avoid this.

That's great that Visa called your husband but don't count on it.....I put
a 2500. charge on my visa card out of state and I figured I've get a call BUT NO CALL EVER CAME.....so they don't catch everything.

[thevegantwins]

We only use 1 card now, our bank card which has a Visa logo so its easy to track. We don't have any credit cards. It's also a good idea to get a free copy of your credit report every year or so to see if anyone has applied for credit or altered your personal information. All of the major credit reporting companies are required to provide a free credit report yearly.

[Gliondrach]

That's a good system. I don't know if it's available here. I might check.

[Gliondrach]

I saw on television that a woman was contacted by the police who asked about her son. She told them that he had died as a baby. Someone had applied for a passport in his name and used it to get credit. I thought that loophole was closed thirty years ago after the publication of The Dogs of War, by Frederick Forsythe. In that he showed how easy it was to get a new identity and passport.

[Phoenix]

...get this....ANYBODY can go into a US Post Office & fill out a Change of address card WITHOUT EVEN SHOWING AN ID!
That's bad. :( Here you have to show photo ID and fill out a fairly long form.